THE SOCIAL EVIL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 121, 15 February 1919, Page 10

THE SOCIAL EVIL

Sir,—Sir .Tames Allen and the Hon, J. A. ITanan made earnest appeal to those attending the deputation in relation, to the above for suggestions tlint may lielp to cope with the evil. '

Many of your reader? have cxprossed regret to me that your report was too condensed. I am therefore asking your kind permission for a little space in your columns in an endeavour to emphasise one or two points, al present only vaguely hinted at, I believe.

Toil are hardly fair when you say: "The deputation did not make clear anything at all it asked for, except that

men and women should be placed on exactly the same footing under the law in regard to offences connected with houses of ill-fame."

The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) you report fully enough, also Miss England. Much of Mrs. Glover's speech, too; still you might have added her pregnant remark that "in spite of the many years' strenuous work of her organisation thero was still a want in the morals of many of the young." You report Mr. P. Fraser, M.P., as saying only "of the need for improved housing as one of the essentials of an improved morality." He also stated that "it wns largely a social .and economic question, and a question of education. Along those lines were the greatest hopes for its solution." The duly of the Government, ho stated, was to make it as easy as possible for the people to livo clean, healthy lives, and as difficult as possible for them to load bad lives. Repressive legislation, however, did not hold out any great hope, a§ compared with that to bo found in the economic and so " a l betterment of the whole country..' K it were easy for all to live cleanly, healthy lives, all branches of controlling bodies in our cities will be fortunately so affected. Do you or any fair-minded citizen believe that the police in a body are wishful to resort to the spying around and giving out in ovidence repulsive facts in order to obtain convictions? At present it would appear as if this were part of their duty, not onlv in matters of sexual promiscuity, but in sly grogfu i U Fi* Thel : efor6 I say we must ask that the proving of the passing, of money in all houses of ill-fame in order to sometimes satisfy the law must be blot•f ou t' The idea is obscure in itself.

I do not believe the police are asking for more sinister power. It is more help they need. When the glorious time comes that sanitary and cheerful homes are the common lot, I am hopeful that parent!} may have the time and more inclination to co-operate with the teacher's in our schools in their endeavour to bring out the best in our children. I submit that the present scheme of the Minister of Education, ITon. J. A. Hanan, if effectively administered, will tend towards better results than have hitherto been, attained. The teachers must be fearless m criticism of any ro. torni they deem it necessary to supplement or substitute for those already promulgated in the scheme, without per. sonal prejudice, otherwise they should show good cause, for a'change of Minister, From a personal point of view I am earnestly looking forward to our snare of free books. For many years 1 nave advocated a teachers and parents' ® we .are too often at each other's throats over petty misunder, standings—mainly, on the one hand, owing to the exhaustion following the battle with overcrowded classes; on the other, an anxiety as to from which dutv a moment can be snatched, with least'loss or waste from any, in a. desire'to send our children to school, wholesome and well fed... Much will 'be gained if the l''™' 6 ; shows-more of our young peopld self-reliant only on self-respecting lines, For many years "sex" in its prurient form has dominated too much - everywhere,

In judging the women who take parr 111 these dens let us try to remember how at the outset of their careers they may have been the victims of very heartless abandonment from those who" sJiOU.lt] have sheltered and safeguarded them, in their time of peril. The female importunor is a criminal by that act. The male jg not. This lecherous animal is everywhere: in tlie offices, the shops, the churches, and the schools. Usually well clothed and with money, he Haunts his foul body around, and his lving, plausible tongue helps to gain his" ends. Too often lie attains them. Truly we women have much work in front of 11s. In this phase alone, where the disabilities ol' oiv sex are so constantly before us, we should see to. it that when this male' type is found he should be prevented from holding any position of trust or near whore he can be in close' contact enough to pollute (lie minds and bodies of our young girls.

In conclusion, I sincerely trust lli.it more and more will it be realised how necessar.v it is to satisfy the natural curiosity of our children in regard .to (he development of their, bodies with the truth. This information must be given to them stripped of all the mystery, secrecy, and the lmlf-truths—if not worse —of the past. So with us of older growth—no- matter how unsavoury .the menace to our public health and happiness, we must, attack it in the open and with the gloves off. Education 011 right lines, without cram, with the necessary work involved by the social lequirements of,to-day, to be shared 'by all, is, I believe, the only solution of the whole of the problem of existence.—l am, etc., ISABEL HULHEHT. .February 13.